State Workforce Data - CA

You are here

California

Workforce

2015

2000

1990

Civilian Labor Force

Note: 1) Persons are considered to be in the civilian labor force if they were employed or if they were unemployed but actively looking for work. Persons not in the labor force include homemakers, retirees, students who do not work, and others who are neither working outside the home nor looking for work. Civilian labor force excludes members of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines). 2) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 3) Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau's pooled 2011-2015 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for remaining states are from the 2015 ACS. 4) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Note: The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.

Foreign Born

Population (16 and older)

10,347,078

% in the civilian labor force

64.0%

Civilian labor force (age 16 and older)

6,622,130

% unemployed of the total civilian labor force

5.9%

Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older)

6,232,781

% change: 2000-2015

40.3%

% change: 1990-2000

27.1%

Note: The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.

U.S. Born

Population (16 and older)

20,721,569

% in the civilian labor force

62.0%

Civilian labor force (age 16 and older)

12,847,373

% unemployed of the total civilian labor force

8.0%

Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older)

11,812,669

% change: 2000-2011

14.9%

% change: 1990-2000

-1.8%

Foreign Born

Population (16 and older)

8,187,028

% change: 2000-2011

58.9%

Civilian labor force (age 16 and older)

4,826,121

% change: 1990-2000

8.0%

Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older)

4,442,292

U.S. Born

Population (16 and older)

17,422,707

% change: 2000-2011

63.2%

Civilian labor force (age 16 and older)

11,012,905

% change: 1990-2000

6.6%

Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older)

10,280,858

Foreign Born

Population (16 and older)

5,771,610

% change: 2000-2011

66.5%

Civilian labor force (age 16 and older)

3,836,722

% change: 1990-2000

8.9%

Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older)

3,495,724

U.S. Born

Population (16 and older)

16,974,486

% change: 2000-2011

65.6%

Civilian labor force (age 16 and older)

11,127,561

% change: 1990-2000

5.9%

Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older)

10,474,055

Foreign-Born Labor Force by U.S. Citizenship Status

Note: 1) Persons are considered to be in the civilian labor force if they were employed or if they were unemployed but actively looking for work. Persons not in the labor force include homemakers, retirees, students who do not work, and others who are neither working outside the home nor looking for work. Civilian labor force excludes members of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines). 2) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 3) Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau's pooled 2011-2015 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for remaining states are from the 2015 ACS. 4) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born

Naturalized Citizens

Population (16 and older)

5,239,776

% in the civilian labor force

62.8%

Civilian labor force (age 16 and older)

3,290,579

% unemployed of the total civilian labor force

4.7%

Civilian employed workers (age 16 and older)

3,134,087

Noncitizens

Population (age 16 and older)

5,107,302

% in the civilian labor force

65.3%

Civilian labor force (age 16 and older)

3,335,068

% unemployed of the total civilian labor force

7.1%

Civilian employed workers (age 16 and older)

3,098,694

U.S. Born

Foreign-Born Workers by Period of Entry and Origin

Foreign Born

Foreign-Born Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) by Period of Entry

Note: The total estimate of foreign-born workers here is somewhat different from other Workforce data due to different ACS data sources.

Note: The total estimate of foreign-born workers here is somewhat different from other Workforce data due to different ACS data sources.

6,229,800

Born in Africa

1.8%

Born in Asia

36.0%

Born in Europe

6.5%

Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean)

53.7%

Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon)

1.3%

Born in Oceania

0.7%

U.S. Born

Occupations

Note: 1) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 2) Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau's pooled 2011-2015 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for remaining states are from the 2015 ACS. 3) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born

Civilian Workers Age 16 and Older

6,232,781

% Civilian Workers Employed in

Management, business, science, and arts occupations

30.2%

Service occupations

23.4%

Sales and office occupations

17.2%

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

13.5%

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

15.6%

% Foreign Born by Occupation

All civilian workers

34.5%

Management, business, science, and arts occupations

27.6%

Service occupations

43.1%

Sales and office occupations

25.9%

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

50.1%

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

47.8%

U.S. Born

Civilian Workers Age 16 and Older

11,812,669

% Civilian Workers Employed in

Management, business, science, and arts occupations

41.7%

Service occupations

16.3%

Sales and office occupations

26.0%

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations

7.1%

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

9.0%

Industries

Note: 1) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 2) Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau's pooled 2010-2014 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for remaining states are from the 2014 ACS. 3) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Note: 1) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 2) Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau's pooled 2010-2014 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for remaining states are from the 2014 ACS. 3) The letter N Indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born

Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) (%)

6,232,781

Private wage and salary workers

81.8%

Government workers

8.7%

Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business

9.3%

Unpaid family workers

0.2%

U.S. Born

Class of Worker (civilian workers age 16 and older) (%)

11,812,669

Private wage and salary workers

76.5%

Government workers

15.7%

Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business

7.6%

Unpaid family workers

0.2%

Population (age 25 and older)

Labor Force Participation by Language Spoken at Home

Number

Total Population (native and foreign born) Age 25 and older

26,085,263

In labor force

16,924,531

Not in labor force

9,160,732

Speak only English

14,572,328

In labor force

9,243,102

Not in labor force

5,329,226

Speak Spanish

6,947,898

In labor force

4,794,382

Not in labor force

2,153,516

Speak other Indo-European languages

1,311,215

In labor force

826,235

Not in labor force

484,980

Speak Asian and Pacific Island languages

2,965,968

In labor force

1,882,540

Not in labor force

1,083,428

Speak other languages

287,854

In labor force

178,272

Not in labor force

109,582

%

Total Population (native and foreign born) age 25 and older

100%

In labor force

64.9%

Not in labor force

35.1%

Speak only English

100%

In labor force

63.4%

Not in labor force

36.6%

Speak Spanish

100%

In labor force

69.0%

Not in labor force

31.0%

Speak other Indo-European languages

100%

In labor force

63.0%

Not in labor force

37.0%

Speak Asian and Pacific Island languages

100%

In labor force

63.5%

Not in labor force

36.5%

Speak other languages

100%

In labor force

61.9%

Not in labor force

38.1%

Workers' Education and English Proficiency

Note: 1) Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm. 2) The term limited English proficient (LEP) refers to any person age 5 and older who reported speaking English "not at all," "not well," or "well" on their survey questionnaire. Persons who speak only English or who report speaking English "very well" are considered proficient in English.

Foreign Born

Civilian Employed Workers (age 25 and older)

5,914,800

Low-educated workers (i.e., those without a high school diploma)

1,748,100

% low educated of all workers

29.6%

High-educated workers (i.e., those with at least a bachelor's degree)

1,844,800

% high educated of all workers

31.2%

Limited English Proficient (LEP) Workers (age 25 and older)

3,085,800

% LEP among all workers

52.2%

U.S. Born

Civilian Workers (age 25 and older)

9,965,100

Low-educated workers (i.e., those with high school diploma)

475,500

% low educated of all workers

4.8%

High-educated workers (i.e., those with at least a bachelor's degree)

4,141,100

% high educated of all workers

41.6%

Limited English Proficient (LEP) Workers (age 25 and older)

203,900

% LEP among all workers

2.0%

Brain Waste

Note: The terms "brain waste" and "skill underutilization" are used interchangeably and describe a phenomenon when college-educated persons are either unemployed or employed in unskilled jobs, i.e., jobs that require only moderate on-the-job training or less, such as construction laborers, taxi drivers, file clerks, or nannies.

The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.

The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.

Persons are considered to be in the civilian labor force if they were employed or if they were unemployed but actively looking for work. Persons not in the labor force include homemakers, retirees, students who do not work, and others who are neither working outside the home nor looking for work. Civilian labor force excludes members of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines). Civilian employed population includes anyone who reported performing full or part-time work during a reference week, being temporarily absent from a job, or performing unpaid work for a family business or farm.

The term limited English proficient (LEP) refers to any person age 5 and older who reported speaking English “not at all,” “not well,” or “well” on their survey questionnaire. Persons who speak only English or who report speaking English “very well” are considered proficient in English.

The terms "brain waste" and "skill underutilization" are used interchangeably and describe a phenomenon when college-educated persons are either unemployed or employed in unskilled jobs, i.e., jobs that require only moderate on-the-job training or less, such as construction laborers, taxi drivers, file clerks, or nannies.

Data-related notes

The letter N indicates that an estimate could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

For “Civilian Labor Force,” “Foreign-Born Labor Force by U.S. Citizenship Status,” “Occupations,” “Industries,” and “Class of Worker,”: Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau's pooled 2011-2015 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2015 ACS.

For “Foreign-Born Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) by Period of Entry,” “Foreign-Born Civilian Employed Workers (age 16 and older) by Region of Birth,” and “Workers' Education and English Proficiency (age 25 and older)”: The total estimate of foreign-born workers here is somewhat different from other workforce data due to different ACS data sources. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are based on Migration Policy Institute (MPI) analysis of the Census Bureau's pooled 2011-15 ACS data. Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are based on MPI analysis of the 2015 ACS.

Brain waste estimates are based on MPI analysis of the Census Bureau's pooled 2013-2015 ACS data.